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Bellator officials today announced the fight and event, which takes place at Horseshoe Hammond Casino in Hammond, Ind. The main card airs on Spike TV following prelims on Spike.com.

Bellator officials are invoking their championship rematch clause, which allows them to book rematches (instead of waiting for the losing fighter to win another tournament) when they deem it appropriate. Straus recently won a clear-cut unanimous decision at Bellator 106, though the series is now tied 1-1 since Curran won their first meeting via knockout in 2009.

“Daniel Straus and Pat Curran are two of the best featherweights on the planet and deserve every ounce and praise and recognition they receive,” Bellator Chairman and CEO Bjorn Rebney stated. “Our featherweight division continues to be the deepest and strongest featherweight division in MMA, and I’m very excited to have this title fight headline a huge night of fights on March 14 from The Horseshoe Hammond.”

In an interview with MMAJunkie's John Morgan, an irate Freire said if Bellator doesn’t believe in him, they should let him go.

“I’m very disappointed with the whole situation,” said Freire. “I’m very upset with the organization. I’ve knocked out three of my past four opponents.

“I lost to Curran in a split decision, so I felt like I deserved to get back in there and have another shot at him. Instead, I had to go back to normal fights and the tournament, but I knocked out three of my next four opponents and feel like I’ve done enough again to get the shot now.”

“They said I would be fighting the winner of Straus vs. Curran III, but I question why that fight has to happen first. I told them I should get the shot, and then they just said that’s the direction the company is going and for me to just keep doing what I’m doing. Nothing they do right now is going to make right what they have done to me.”

“Ever since I started training, I never stopped unless I was seriously injured. Nothing is going to keep me out of the gym, but I’m really upset at this decision. Still, I’m going to keep on doing what I’m doing and prove I’m the best featherweight in the world.

“I’m upset at the whole thing not going the way I thought I was going. I’ve got faith to keep training and keep doing what I’m doing, and hopefully everything will work out. But if Bellator doesn’t believe in me – if they don’t want me to be champion and to do things right – I’d like to just ask them to let me out of my contract.”

Strauss too was not impressed, via Facebook.

"My perception is that Bellator wants him as champ so bad not only does he get immediate rematch but gets it in his hometown damn near," wote Strauss. "Any thoughts?"

I don't blame him. I don't get either why Curran is getting a rematch. First, Freire had to earn his FW title shot twice by going through the tournament; 2) they have 2 contenders lined up for the FW title: Freire and and Khasbulaev, both of which are damn exciting challengers for the belt; and 3) the Straus and Curran fight wasn't even close. I know people can say that now they're 1-1 but regardless the 3 points I mentioned trumps that.

“Our featherweight division continues to be the deepest and strongest featherweight division in MMA"

How ironic that he makes that claim, yet doesn't care enough for the division outside of Curran.

Pat was being promoted quite well while being the champ, yet this is the first time Strauss has been in the news since being champ. Rebney hasnt even bothered to promote the division, and the up and coming talent that his FW division possesses. I would love to see some of those FW come over to UFC and help bring more depth to an already exciting division.

Would not be shocked if King Mo's next fight is a #1 contender fight against Newton, even though he had 2 awful performances versus him.

One can only speculate at why both Patrico Friere and Magomedrasul Khasbulaev (hasn't fought since April of 2013) are being forced to wait this one out, but to add more fuel to the fire, Straus weighed in on this very topic on Facebook this week, speculating as to why Curran is getting another chance.

"My perception is that Bellator wants him as champ so bad not only does he get immediate rematch but gets it in his hometown damn near. Any thoughts?"

The distance from Curran's hometown of Crystal Lake, Illinois, to Hammond, Indiana? A mere 70 miles. Compare that to the 274 mile drive from Cincinnati, Ohio, to the venue and Straus may have an argument.

Bellator will surely clear this one up for everyone soon, right?

Until then, World Series of Fighting (WSOF) resident matchmaker Ali Abdel-Aziz's has a suggestion:

Ali Abdelaziz @AliAbdelaziz00
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@PatricioPitbull We would like to have you fight for @MMAWorldSeries.Bellator didn't give you a title shot but we would.

Nope but they get to take another dig at Bellator and make themselves look on par with them.

The best thing Bellator had going for it was the tournament format and future stars being born out that. They've totally gone counter to that by signing guys like Rampage /Tito and granting immediate rematches and that's ultimately going to cripple them.